[Peanui]

Hi,

I adopted a one year old female Syrian hamster, Roudoudou, yesterday. Her erstwhile humans are moving to the US and wanted to give her up. She spent this one year in a 14" x 8" x 8" enclosure without any wheel and with less than an inch of wood shavings (no paper bedding). So, she looks very healthy otherwise but when I took her in my hand, I saw that her vaginal/anal region has a very dark black patch. There's a white fluid oozing, and it smells. I have heard of horror stories about pyometra and I don't know if it's something serious that she has. I'm trying to get an appointment with the Exotic veterinarian on Monday but wanted to have an opinion from others.

I have never had a female hamster before and I don't know if it's anything serious. She is otherwise very active, running around (a big 33 cm wheel has been ordered) and exploring, perhaps for the first time, and burrowing. I am attaching a couple of photos of hers.

Many thanks for your help.

Best regards,

Shankha.